Azores Whale Watching Tour – Ponta Delgada
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Biologist-Guided Experience – Our tours are always accompanied by professional marine biologists who provide live commentary, species identification, and fascinating insights into whale behavior and marine conservation.
Land-Based Lookouts (Vigias) – We use traditional lookout points on land to spot whales and dolphins before the boats even leave the marina. This local method dramatically increases our chances of successful sightings.
Ethical Wildlife Observation – At Picos de Aventura, we prioritize respectful and non-invasive approaches to wildlife, ensuring that our encounters do not disturb the animals or their natural behaviors.
Scenic Azorean Backdrop – The dramatic coastline of São Miguel and the deep blue Atlantic create a stunning setting for your adventure.
Comfort & Choice – Whether you prefer the adrenaline of a rigid inflatable speedboat or the stability of a catamaran, we offer different vessels to suit your comfort level and adventure style.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
We offer tours on 2 different types of boats: A zodiac-style rigid inflatable speedboat, designed for speed, safety, and a thrilling close-to-the-water experience OR or a modern Catamaran with plenty of space to move around where you can relax inside the covered cabin or soak up the views from the open-air upper deck. This larger boat offers a more comfortable experience and amenities like toilets for your convenience. Perfect for families with small children.
Children must be accompanied by an adult
May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
Weather conditions may limit the participation of children due to safety concerns.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Meeting Point: Start your adventure at our headquarters in the Marina of Ponta Delgada. Please arrive 15–20 minutes before departure to check in and get ready for your experience. Safety Briefing & Introduction (15–20 minutes) Our team of expert marine biologists will welcome you and give a detailed safety briefing. You’ll also learn about the marine species you might encounter, local conservation efforts, and what to expect during the tour. Departure from the Marina After the briefing, we’ll board the boat and set off into the Atlantic Ocean in search of whales, dolphins, and other marine life. Our biologists will accompany you throughout the trip, offering fascinating insights and helping identify each species we encounter.
Whale & Dolphin Watching (2 to 3 hours) Spend up to 3 hours at sea, guided by our experienced crew and biologists. Sightings vary depending on the day, but you may encounter sperm whales, dolphins, and possibly even baleen whales or other migratory species. The tour combines the thrill of spotting wildlife with informative commentary and breathtaking views of the coastline. Return to the Marina After the tour, we return to our headquarters where your guides are available for any final questions or to share more about the sightings of the day.
What‘s Included
Two boat types available: Catamaran or Rigid Inflatable Speedboat.
Cetacean sightings guaranteed! Full-refund if we don't spot any whales OR dolphins.
Rain Coat and Life Vest (mandatory on the small boats)
Professional Marine Life Experts on board!
Food and drinks
Hotel drop-off
Hotel Pick-up
Options
Tour on Speed Boat
Duration: 3 hours
Speedboat: High-speed, open-air zodiac boat for a more adventurous and close-to-the-water experience. Ideal for small groups and fast, a
Tour on Catamaran
Duration: 3 hours
Catamaran: Stable and roomy catamaran designed for a smooth ride. Offers panoramic views, shaded areas, and an onboard restroom — perfec
Tour on Fiberglass Boat
Duration: 3 hours
Fiberglass Boat: Spacious 30-seat fiberglass boat equipped with a suncover for shade. Comfortable and ideal for scenic
Reviews
741 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Very much worth waking up early!
249analis,,Feb 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We went to watch the whales in mid-February. The team switched a couple of activities around for us, upon our consent and confirmation, to make sure we had the best conditions to go out to the sea. We took a speed boat there and they did their absolute best to take us to see the animals out in the wild. This meant a speedy ride with a LOT of bumps (not appropriate if you have any back injuries, which they warn you upfront about). We were incredibly lucky to see common dolphins, who were playful and approachable but also a couple of rare sightings - risso dolphins, a shy species that has a distinct white coloration, and also the first blue whale sight of the year (very rare this time of year). We saw two blue whales and one of them presented us with something very unique - a sight of the tail. The trip on the way back included some spins in the water for our fun. The guides were very kind and open to questions. They were biologists, and doing research while on the boat with us. It was endearing to see them finish out trip and call their loved ones excitedly to say they saw a blue whale tail - for one them, it was the first time out in the ocean. We heard her on the phone extatic. Our main guide has been out at sear for 3 years, and this was her first tail sighting. She was also emotional. The key to this type of trip is to lower your expectations because these are wild animals. They do their best to give us a good time while respecting the animals' needs for space and managing our expectations. If you go out just happy to be out at sea, you will have a good time and be pleasantly surprised every step of the way!
Azores island getaways
kevincQ2035ML,,Jan 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We Left Toronto and flew to Ponta Delgado and from there to Terceira island. The weather was great, we had a few days of rain but it never stopped us. The hotels supply umbrellas . On Terceira we stayed at the Book Hotel. I loved it, it is more like a boutique hotel only huge. outside pool, inside pool with sauna, hot tub, and spa facility. We all loved it. The whole island is an extinct volcano so black lava rock is everywhere. The whole town has cobblestone streets. It's like stepping into old Europe. You are going up or going down. I am 80 with bad feet, so if I can do it anyone can. We walked 6.5 Kilometers one day and I was fine, There is lots to see and do. We went to a cheese factory, pineapple plantation, drove around the entire island, a winery. shopping. Tons of great restaurants. It's best to go to most places by cab. There are plenty of them and they are reasonable. The people are amazing, I can not say enough about them, kind considerate, helpful. They are Terceira's best asset. On our return we flew back to Ponta Delgado and stayed a few days there at the hotel Canadiano it was very nice . We had a room with 3 beds. Nice. The only drawback is that their currency is the Euro. A bit pricier,( but well worth it). I would go back in a heart beat. If you make the choice to go to any of the islands of the Azores trust me you won't be sorry. Oh and by the way you can't throw a rock without hitting a bakery, and they are phenomenal.
Good trip
Satty A,,Jan 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Lovely boat trip but a little choppy and windy. Saw lots of Dolphins and Humpback whales Lovely scenery
Great ride to see the dolphins!
melanierM9804IA,,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fun adventure on the open boat! Comfortable seats and surprisingly smooth ride. We were happy to see so many dolphins!!
“Off-Season”? Not my experience!
Cameron S,,Dec 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00A wonderful experience! We were originally scheduled for Monday, but the weather wasn’t good so they rebooked us to the tour on Tuesday. This may be the “off-season” for whale watching, but we saw some majestic animals- common dolphins, pilot dolphins, and even a sperm whale. My only recommendation is that it can be rough on the speed boat, so make sure you are prepared for that if you get motion sickness. Also, our biologist was so knowledgeable about the whales and his excitement for the job was palpable!
Amazing tour
megan b,,Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was great! We went on the speed boat, which by itself was fun! Our group all enjoyed the waves so the driver made sure we had a fun ride! Considering it was the end of November, we still saw a lot of animals! Sperm whales, piolet whales and even a balleen whale which apparently is rare for this time of year. We also saw a pod of spotted dolphins with babies! The pod followed along the side of our boat for a fair distance, jumping out of the water like they were performing for us. It was absolutely wonderful. The guides were all great, and seeing their excitement about the wildlife made the experience even better. It's obvious they really enjoy what they are doing and that this is a passion not just a job. I definitely recommend this tour!
Lack of transparency
FarAway16175345619,,Nov 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00I would like to express my deep disappointment regarding the tour held yesterday with Picos de Aventura. I want to make it clear that my dissatisfaction is not directed at the team that accompanied us — both the biologists and the skipper have always been professional, dedicated and quite friendly. The problem lies solely in the company's policy. After almost three hours of travel, we only had about 15 to 20 minutes of observing dolphins — and even those sightings were forced and of poor quality, as the animals barely came to the surface. It took almost two hours to navigate without any marine activity, something that was apparently already predictable, considering that the company has guards responsible for monitoring the presence of animals in the area. The frustration was even greater because I traveled with two children aged 5 and 11, my children, to whom I promised a memorable experience. Instead, we had a long, cold and dismotivating journey, totally avoidable in the face of information that, as all indicates, was already available. The biologists themselves said that what we saw corresponded to about 10% of the normal and that they did not remember such a poor day in sightings. I consider this situation unacceptable. With the information that there were virtually no animals in the area, it would be expected that the tour would be cancelled or at least that guests would be warned of the high probability of not seeing anything. For the price practiced, customers deserve transparency, honesty and respect. This experience, in the conditions in which it was carried out, does not correspond in any way to what is announced and promoted by the company.
Great experience in the mis of the Atlantic Ocean off Azores Island of Sao Miguel
bor892,,Nov 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was the perfect day, with no high waves or rain, the guides were very prepared and courteous with the guests, we saw many dolphins and whales
First class experience ❤️
Denise R,,Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent company, very professional and knowledgeable, keen to promote the welfare and protection of the whales and dolphins. Safety high on their agenda and the safety of the dolphins and whales. Highly recommend
Fantastic trip.
christopherrC2976GN,,Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very friendly staff the biologist was very informative we went on the speed boat which had comfortable seats which you straddled with a grab handle on the seat back in front of you. It was quite bouncy at speed but I am 71 and coped with that ok. We saw bottle nosed dolphins logger head turtles sperm whales one pair with a baby And a finn whale which was rare for this time of year. Really great trip.
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Operated by Picos de Aventura - Animação e Lazer, S.A.